Dysfunctional

The Elephant In The Room

Dinner in this house whenever my two older brothers aren't around is always so full of tension. Or maybe its just me, maybe I'm the only one on high alert for any shenanigans on Toby's part or some form of scolding from my mother. I'm sure Theo feels the same way, the only difference between us is that while he quietly observes his surroundings, I'm killing myself, pumping adrenaline throughout my body getting ready for a fight or flight situation at any moment. That would definitely lead to tension.

Timmy and Tommy played with the peas in their plates, completely oblivious to my inner turmoil. I lost my appetite long before dinner started, because i remembered i had an announcement to make and if i had enough experience in these sort of scenarios, it wouldn't go well.

"Umm Mum?"  i started, placing my fork beside my plate.

"Yes?" she answered almost mechanically without looking up at me.

"Theo and i have been talking," i started, long since deciding that it was better for me to go straight to the point, "We've been thinking and we want to get jobs. Keep us busy this summer and since we don't really have a lot of extracurriculars, we thought it would look good on a college application."

My mother chewed her food slowly and deliberately before answering me, "You two don't need jobs."

I immediately stiffened. I opened my mouth to speak but Theo beat me to it. "Mum, think about this for a minute. Alex and i need an excuse to get out of the house more and..."

"Is there something you're trying to run away from in this house Theo?" asked Mum.

Theo and i both cast a look at Toby who smirked and winked at us. "No." said Theo simply, "But that doesn't mean we don't need to leave the house more. And we'll be earning money too. We can buy stuff for ourselves, it'll be nice to have some new stuff. Right Alex?"

That was when Mum stopped chewing. She swallowed and carefully put her cutlery down then turned towards Theo and me.

"So what you are implying is I'm not doing a good job at taking care of you two so you want to get jobs to compensate for that is that it? Or that perhaps this environment is a tad bit too hostile for you so getting jobs will take you away from that. Is that it?" asked Mum.

I swallowed. "No Mum that's not what we..."

"What did you mean by it Alex? I give the two of you everything you need and then some, what's the need for jobs? Do you really think you're ready to be part of the working class." she asked.

I raised an eyebrow, utterly and completely confused by the direction this conversation was taking. "What exactly is the big deal?" I said.  "Its just doing a little bit of work for the summer, its not like we're running away to start a weed farm. And what the hell is 'working class' anyway? We're not looking for white-collar jobs, we just want to do something this summer. Some parents would be happy that their kids are taking responsibility, some force their kids to do that but not you. I honestly do not understand how you can take offence at the fact that your kids want to take on some responsibility. What the hell is that?!" I said, raising my voice a little.

"Alex." Theo as a form of reprimand. I looked at him and bit my tongue to prevent myself from saying what i wanted to say next. Theo pushed his plate away, that simple gesture showing that he was taking the invisible mantle of conversation away from my hands and holding it firmly in his.

"Mum I don't see the problem with the two of us getting jobs." Theo said simply.

Mum rolled her eyes. "I know what you're doing even if you don't want to say it. Every summer since your father passed away you look for an excuse to stay out of the house. The first summer after he died, you wanted to spend it with his parents. Every summer after that it's been spending it with George and her parents, who are probably tired of the routine after four years, so now you want to get jobs. I just want to know what exactly is in this house that you're running away from.".

I snorted and pushed my food away. "I don't know. I'm sure a drunk absent mother and a brother who is a literal knife in the side isn't enough reason to run away. This house was and is still a shit-hole ever since Dad died. The only difference now is that we don't a drunk Mum crying and vomiting into the toilet. We don't have Tyler or Tony carrying said mother into her own bed wasted out of her mind. Looking pathetic as hell." I spat out.

Toby and Mum gave me looks of death. If looks could kill, let's just say I'd be on a one way trip to heaven by now. Timmy and Tommy looked at Mum, "Mum...who is she talking about?" said Tommy.

"Nobody. Get upstairs, dinner's over." she said firmly.

"But Mum..."

"I said get upstairs. NOW!" she yelled.

The twins looked ready to cry and ran upstairs. I waited till i heard a door slam and then rounded on my mother.

"You have no right to scream at them like that!" i said, pounding my fist on the table.

"And you have no right to talk to me like that!" said Mum, livid.

"You lost any rights to anything in this house the moment you became a dysfunctional mother!" I said. This had gone way beyond the need for a job. I needed to get away from the elephant in the room everyone seemed to pretend wasn't there. I needed, we needed, anything that would bring some form of sanity to this household and if she won't let me have it then I'll throw all her shit in her face!

Toby stood up, "Say one more word, Theresa, i fucking dare you."

"Word! Word! Word, word, word!" i challenged, earning a small laugh from Theo. "Eat that you sorry excuse of a brother."

Tempers were high. Theo sat there, watching, silent as we ripped each other. Finally he made a move. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he stood and addressed Mum and Toby.

"Summer in this house Mother, when no one has school to distract them, has an atmosphere of open warfare. I don't know if you've noticed but none of us are on good terms. I want to believe its because we haven't worked through Dad's passing. Everyone handles grief differently, Toby lashes out on me and Alex, you resort to drinking, Tyler and Tony resort to investing themselves in their schoolwork and Alex and I seek refuge elsewhere. Its why we want those to work this summer, we need the money anyway. I honestly don't get why you're so opposed to this, maybe the idea of your kids working for minimum wage disgusts you, i don't know but i don't want another summer full of nothing but an absentee mother, three fighting siblings and two little kids that end up being their responsibility because no one else pays them any attention!"

I was breathing hard now and close to tears. Theo placed his hands over mine  and i held unto him like he was my life support. "Please Mum just let us have this." I said pleading.

Mum all of a sudden looked really pale and worn. She sank low on her chair and let out a shaky sigh, "I promised your father on his death bed to take care of you, all of you. Let me do that for his sake more than anything. If you're getting jobs, I'd rather you got because you want to earn some extra cash not run from an exaggerated problem. Just stay, maybe things will be better later on." she said almost sadly.

Toby snorted. "Just kick them out. Its the most they deserve after all." he said, his voice hinting at something

"What do you mean?" i said, narrowing my eyes.

Toby narrowed his eyes at a look from Mum, "You heard me. Interpret what i said how you like. I'm going off to bed, I'm getting sick of all this." he said, walking off, his voice once again hinting at something.

"C'mon." Theo said, pulling at my arm. "We should get to bed too." And he led me off, both of us leaving Mum staring into the distance.

And to think...all this started simply because Theo and I wanted jobs. Mum's reasons why she was against it still didn't make sense to me, but she was my mother so i had to obey. Looks like Theo and I aren't becoming part of the working class this summer.

A/N: This is chapter is uploaded without editing or proof-reading. Please pardon errors and focus on the fun story instead. See you in the next chapter. Vote and Comment, please and thank you. Feedback is always appreciated.